Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.
Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign.
On Jackie Robinson Day, what better place to turn one's attention than the stadium that bears his name? Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Tortugas, opened as City Island Ballpark in 1914 and is now the oldest stadium in all of Minor League Baseball. Jackie Robinson played there during...
In the Sun Herald Sports section on Wednesday, October 21, 1953, the headline of a column read “Jackie Robinson All-Stars Slate Biloxi Appearance.” In the five-paragraph announcement, readers were informed that an opportunity to see “Big League baseball stars in action” was coming to the Gulf Coast on November 2...
From Minnie Miñoso to Buck O’Neil, Triple-A St. Paul has an established track record of honoring the history of baseball and the key figures involved in the game’s integration. And in 2019, shortly before the club’s Minor League affiliation, the organization introduced a unique way to celebrate the local history...
On an August night in 2018, Jerry Cowart had traveled more than 750 miles from West Virginia to Pensacola, so he could reconnect with special history. He was a pitcher-infielder on the 1955 Orlando Kiwanis, an 11-12-year-old Little League team, which agreed to play the Pensacola Jaycees in a game...
The Marauders will continue an important tradition that honors the history of Black baseball in their own backyard. “Bradenton Nine Devils Tribute Night,” which honors the team that played at McKechnie Field from 1937 to 1956 in the independent Florida State Negro League, will be celebrated for the second consecutive...
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Stitcher and other...
After a year off and a lot of time to reflect and practice, Torii Hunter Jr. was finally ready to get back in the game. To start the season, the outfielder was assigned to the Rocket City Trash Pandas and was gearing up to start in his Double-A debut on...
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers continue Minor League Baseball’s celebration of Black History Month with a pair of history making minor league managers....
Before the first National Negro League was formed in 1920, Black baseball teams were making substantial strides to grow their popularity across the country. One of those teams is not widely regarded in the history books, possibly because it was only around for four years, but the legacy of the...
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club. On February 1, the Jumbo Shrimp unveiled five of the best Black players to ever suit up for Jacksonville...
FRISCO, Texas (February 10, 2022) - The Frisco RoughRiders are thrilled to announce that they will be playing under the moniker "Dallas Black Giants" over three dates during the 2022 season as a tribute to the Dallas-based Negro Leagues team in the early to mid-1900s. The first of these games...
The Page Fence Giants only existed for four years, but they were one of the most dominant Black baseball teams of all time. Founded in 1894 in Adrian, Michigan, by Bud Fowler and Grant “Home Run” Johnson because of the color barrier, the Giants won over 100 games in each...
For longtime coach Gary Jones, Huntsville represents turning points in his baseball career that has now spanned over three decades. First, it was the spot where a 25-year-old infielder was a star on the field in 1986. Three years later, it was where Jones returned for his final season as...
In a playing career that lasted longer than anyone else’s, Minnie Miñoso still knew how to make a quick impression. The White Sox legend and member of the 2022 National Baseball Hall of Fame class has one of the most impressive resumes in the history of the game -- one...
On Jackie Robinson Day, and every day, the Daytona Tortugas pay tribute to his legacy at the ballpark that bears his name. This season the team is taking part in The Nine initiative through their "Barrier Breakers" series, and Ben Hill has the details.
MiLB.com recalls Jackie's path and legacy more than a century after his birth.
Artwork acknowledging centennial of Tulsa Race Massacre aims to educate and inspire,
The Daytona Tortugas' Jackie Robinson Ballpark pays tribute to 1946 season.
Statue commemorates scene of Jackie's first MiLB game with the Montreal Royals.
In celebration of Black History Month, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club. While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages."
